Welfare Benefits Articles
Welfare Reform Bill 2010-12 – impact on benefits? (24 November 2011)
The reasoning behind the introduction of the Welfare Reform Bill 2010-12 is that there were very many people who were effectively stuck in the so-called ‘welfare trap’, in other words trapped in a network of unemployment benefits from which they were, in many cases, unable to extricate themselves. The rewards of returning to work amounted to less than the benefits they were receiving. Read more...
What are the requirements for EEA Nationals to claim benefits in UK? (23 November 2011)
There are a number of restrictions concerning an EEA national’s rights to receive benefits in the UK, but generally speaking they are treated in the same way as UK citizens. They are therefore entitled to apply for social security benefits and social housing here, whether they are employed or self-employed. These rights may depend on factors such as how long they have been working for and how long they have been resident in the UK. Read more...
Consequences of wrongly claiming a state benefit (23 November 2011)
Wrongly claiming a state benefit can see you facing a fine or prison sentence, depending on its seriousness. For starters, you will have to repay the money you took and were not entitled to, with the actual punishment coming on top of that. Read more...
Can I appeal if my claim for incapacity benefit is refused and what is the process? (22 November 2011)
Incapacity Benefit was replaced by the Employment and Support Allowance on 31st January 2011. In order to qualify for this new allowance, applicants must satisfy a number of criteria, such as being able to prove that they are unable to work due to an illness or injury. They will be assigned a caseworker to help them get them back into employment doing a job they are capable. Alternatively, they may receive a higher level of benefit if their illness or injury is deemed so serious that they cannot return to work. Read more...
The Welfare Benefits to be paid monthly (13 September 2011)
The government is bringing in measures to pay benefits monthly instead of fortnightly. The present six income-related work-based benefits, such as child tax credit and income support is going to be replaced by the “universal payment”. The bill for Welfare Reform is currently being passed through the Parliament. The ministers said that 75% of the people in work are being paid monthly hence it is sensible to disburse the benefits in the same manner. Read more...
Benefit fraud lawyer: how can he help you? (9 September 2011)
Are you under investigation for benefit fraud? Have you received a letter to attend the interview under caution at the Local Council Office or the Department of Work and Pensions office? If you want to ensure that you are not convicted and do not receive a severe punishment, hire a benefit fraud lawyer. Read more...
Goodbye Tension – Hello Pension? (13 June 2011)
The government has announced that the State Pension age is to rise to 66 years old for both men and women, by the year 2018. The latest announcements on pension reform have changed the timetable that had previously been part of the Coalition Agreement of 2010. Under that agreement, the rise in the pension age was set to be more gradual. Read more...
Appealing to the Upper Tier Tribunal (18 April 2011)
The First Tier Tribunal are an independent Tribunal at HM Tribunals Service who will hear appeals regarding Social Security cases, they will hear appeals and apply the law and standard of proof that is required to be met by a claim. Read more...
The New Work Capability Assessment (18 April 2011)
The Work Capability Assessment (WCA) was introduced in October 2008 as a significant part of the assessment process to establish entitlement to a new benefit called Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). Read more...
Changes to Incapacity Benefit (31 January 2011)
From April 2011 there will be a reassessment of customers receiving Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance or Income Support (on the grounds of illness or disability) for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). The transfer or reassessment of incapacity benefits customers will be phased in over three years. Read more...
Personal Independence Allowance to replace Disability Living Allowance (31 January 2011)
The Coalition Government plans to scrap Disability Living Allowance (DLA) in 2013/2014 and replace it with Personal Independency Payment (PIP). DLA has become ‘too confusing and not fit for the 21st Century’. Read more...
Tribunal Service Appeals (31 January 2011)
The Tribunals Service recently announced that claims in the Social Security and Child Support tribunals rose by 41% compared to the same quarter in 2010 and also ESA and Incapacity Benefit appeals has risen by 56% in the same period. Read more...